HIVING SWARMS. 217 



and then smoked them upwards till clustered upon it. It 

 should be borne in mind that they have always a readier 

 tendency to ascend than to descend. A feather dipped 

 in carbolic acid will very promptly move them, and as 

 they can readily escape from its fumes there is no objec- 

 tion in this case to its use. Another case of settling in 

 an awkward spot is mentioned above (page 78). 



If the new swarm is intended for transportation to a 

 distance, it is as well for it to be left at the same spot 

 until evening, provided the sun is shaded from it ; but if 

 the hive is meant to stand in or near the same garden, 

 it is better to remove it within half an hour to its perma- 

 nent position, because so eager are newly swarmed bees 

 for pushing forward the work of furnishing their empty 

 house that they sally forth at once in search of materials. 

 If the removal has been made after they have gone forth 

 they will be unable to find their home in its altered 

 position, in which case they will circle about for hours 

 till they fall and die from exhaustion. But by prompt 

 transference, only the first despatch of scouts will be 

 lost, and these are a good loss, as they might entice the 

 whole colony to desert. 



The bee-master should always seek to prevent his 

 ■ labourers from swarming more than once ; his policy is 

 rather to encourage the industrious gathering of honey, 

 by keeping a sufficient supply of supers on the hives. 

 Sometimes, however, he may err in putting on the supers 

 too early or unduly late, and the bees will then swarm a 



